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United earn late point at Liverpool
Former leaders Manchester United have lost two more points this season after drawing Liverpool 1-1 on Anfield. Reds’ captain Steven Gerrard opened the score for the hosts and Hernandez earned United a precious point with ten minutes left in the game.
The Red Devils were the first to put pressure on Pepe Reina’s goal through Danny Welbeck who intercepted Rio Ferdinand’s cross only to be denied by the Spanish keeper. Gerrard got his first chance in the 11th minute whose dangerous delivery was cleared by the vigilant defence in what could have been a crucial chance for the home side.
Reina then denied Fletcher’s cross from the left to reinstate his side. United broke back three minutes later through newly arrived Phil Jones who intercepted Evra’s cross with a dangerous header which eventually reached the side netting to the dismay of Alex Ferguson. Liverpool won a corner in the 23rd minute which Gerrard delivered inside the box. Suarez anticipated the shot but the Uruguayan failed to contact it properly, his finish going just wide.
The first yellow card was shown to Liverpool in the 29th minute when Martin Skrtel failed to stop Welbeck, taking the United striker down for a booking. Suarez got yet another big chance one minute later but it was Rio Ferdinand to block the forward at the death.
Downing lack of control allowed Gerrard to earn the ball in dangerous position only to strike it over the bar from just out side the box. Liverpool mocked a golden chance in the 35th minute when Suarez won the ball inside the box only to be denied by De Gea who made the clearance at the death in what should have been the opener for the home side.
Fletcher was then picked far from the goal, his range shot going into the stands. Kuyt picked Suarez in good position two minutes later but the Uruguayan was forced to abandon the action for an offside position. Skrtel assumed the responsibility for an individual exquisite which saw the defender beat a couple of marks and penetrate the box. Unfortunately for him, Ferdinand blocked him with some ease.
Newly arrived Ashley Young was the second man to get booked for a trip on national team mate Gerrard with two minutes left in the first half. The half time went scoreless as the game was still open to any result.
As for the second part, it started with a big occasion from United. Young was played on the edge of the box but his tricky shot was saved by Reina. A controversial action occurred in the 51st minute when Kuyt’s header touched Evans’s hand. The referee let the game move on despite Reds penalty claims and fans’ boos.
Rio Ferdinand also picked a yellow card ten minutes into the second half for a foul on Charlie Adam who was stopped in dangerous area by the England defender. Suarez got his first second part chance late in the 60th minute following a poor clearance from Untied defence which helped the Uruguayan both pick and arrange the ball before striking it into the sky.
Evra conceded his first yellow card in the 65th minute for a clash with Suarez. Rio Ferdinand was very close to seeing a second yellow card one minute later when the United defender fouled Adam. The 68th minute saw Liverpool break through and open the score through their leader Gerrard who beat De Gea with a tremendous free kick shot which reached the left hand bottom corner from 20 yards or so. That was also his sixth goal scored against rivals Manchester United.
The opener made Alex Ferguson made his first couple of changes as recovered Wayne Rooney and Nani came in for Young and Park respectively, in what would prove to be a very inspired move. Nani got his first chance just ten minutes after being introduced as the French winger earned the ball in dangerous area only to finish it wide.
Another inspired move was made in the 77th minute by the Devils manager who replaced ineffectual Jones with Javier Hernandez. Just four minutes after being introduced, Chichariot broke through and leveled the score following a corner from the left taken by Evra and headed across the face of the goal by Welbeck. Hernandez took advantage of a free area to head it home past De Gea from pretty close range.
But Liverpool managed to break back immediately through Kuyt whose shot was saved at the death by the former Atletico Madrid keeper. The Reds then won a corner which Nani cleared poorly in what could have been a second one for Liverpool. Downing missed a good chance in the 87th minute, his shot reaching the stands to his own dismay.
The last word belonged to Henderson whose range strike also went wide, leaving the scoreboard unchanged. United thus picked a point, insufficient though to keep the top spot in the Premier League stands. Liverpool also remain fifth with 16 points, three behind Chelsea and four behind United.
Said scorer Gerrard at the end of the game: “You sum a side up by how strong your bench is. If you look at our bench against United, we had Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson – that goes to show how much stronger we’ve got over the last couple of years… All those players have made our squad an awful lot stronger.”
Liverpool will next meet newly promoted Norwich City, while Manchester United host local rivals City on Sunday.
Liverpool – Reina; Jose Enrique, Carragher, Skrtel, Kelly; Adam, Lucas, Downing, Kuyt, Gerrard; Suarez. Reserves: C. Bellamy, D. Agger, J. Spearing, J. Robinson, A. Carroll, Doni, J. Henderson.
Manchester United – De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Jones, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Young; Welbeck. Reserves: Nani, A. Lindegaard, J. Hernandez, M. Carrick, W. Rooney, A. Valencia, Anderson.
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